An Egyptian Princess — Complete eBook

CHAPTER XIV.

While our friends were enjoying their row on the Nile,
Cambyses’ envoy, Prexaspes, had returned from
a mission to the long-lived Ethiopians. He praised
their strength and stature, described the way to their
country as almost inaccessible to a large army, and
had plenty of marvellous tales to tell. How,
for instance; they always chose the strongest and
handsomest man in their nation for their king, and
obeyed him unconditionally: how many of them
reached the age of 120 years, and some even passed
it: how they ate nothing but boiled flesh, drank
new milk and washed in a spring the waters of which
had the scent of violets, gave a remarkable lustre
to their skins, and were so light that wood could not
swim in them: how their captives wore golden fetters,
because other metals were rare and dear in their country;
and lastly, how they covered the bodies of the dead
with plaster or stucco, over which a coating of some
glass-like material was poured, and kept the pillars
thus formed one year in their houses, during which
time sacrifices were offered them, and at the year’s
end they were placed in rows around the town.

The king of this strange people had accepted Cambyses’
presents, saying, in a scornful tone, that he new
well his friendship was of no importance to the Persians,
and Prexaspes had only been sent to spy out the land.
If the prince of Asia were a just man, he would be
contented with his own immense empire and not try
to subjugate a people who had done him no wrong.
“Take your king this bow,” he said, “and
advise him not to begin the war with us, until the
Persians are able to bend such weapons as easily as
we do. Cambyses may thank the gods, that the Ethiopians
have never taken it into their heads to conquer countries
which do not belong to them.”

He then unbent his mighty bow of ebony, and gave it
to Prexaspes to take to his lord.

Cambyses laughed at the bragging African, invited
his nobles to a trial of the bow the next morning,
and awarded Prexaspes for the clever way in which
he had overcome the difficulties of his journey and
acquitted himself of his mission. He then went
to rest, as usual intoxicated, and fell into a disturbed
sleep, in which he dreamed that Bartja was seated
on the throne of Persia, and that the crown of his
head touched the heavens.

This was a dream, which he could interpret without
the aid of soothsayer or Chaldean. It roused
his anger first, and then made him thoughtful.

He could not sleep, and such questions as the following
came into his mind: “Haven’t you
given your brother reason to feel revengeful?
Do you think he can forget that you imprisoned and
condemned him to death, when he was innocent?
And if he should raise his hand against you, would
not all the Achaemenidae take his part? Have
I ever done, or have I any intention of ever doing
anything to win the love of these venal courtiers?
Since Nitetis died and that strange Greek fled, has
there been a single human being, in whom I have the
least confidence or on whose affection I can rely?”